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September 18, 2012

32/50 Kölsch

Do you know what Kölsch is? For starters, it's deceivingly light in color and body but packs way more flavor than you might expect. It's also a bit of a hybrid, made using top fermenting yeast at warmer temperatures like an ale, but still undergoing cold conditioning, or lagering, like a pilsner. Kölsch originates from Köln (Cologne to us gringos) in the Rhineland region of Germany. Foremost in my own mind, it is an under appreciated style, but it's one of the tastiest, most refreshing beers out there. COAST 32/50 Kölsch is a perfect specimen, and in my opinion one-ups traditional ones like Gaffel and Reissdorf in both aromatics and flavor.

Pours deep, pale yellow. Floral hops on the nose along with some hay and grass, bread and a touch of sweetness from the malt. Light bodied with lively but somewhat soft carbonation, almost creamy, so it's very smooth and easy to drink. Taste follows the aroma, with more wheat and dense white bread notes, a bit of lemon, and some honey and white wine towards the end. Just the right amount of hop bitterness balances out the citrus and sweetness.

My favorite part about 32/50 Kölsch is that it's only 4.8% ABV. It makes an excellent session beer and is available year round. Oh, and in case the map on the bottle isn't a dead giveaway, 32/50 refers to the latitudes of Charleston, SC and Köln, Germany. Cheers!